Can this cantle be saved?

[Jags]

Hi folks,

I've got this Victorian horsehair sporran but the leather cantle has seen much better days. Is there anything I can do to make it look better?

As this is not the first cantle I've seen in such shape, does anyone know what happens to leather to cause it to deteriorate this way. It doesn't look so much dry and cracked as melted!

Cheers!IMG_9009.JPG

[Tarheel]

The cell walls of the leather have separated and exploded over time due to humidity and drying. I do not think there is a way repair this. However...

There is a way to fill the voids with an epoxy that stabilizes the shape and creates a solid mold. This could be sanded and finished but would not look natural. Afterward, a veneer of super thin leather could be applied.

I think a replacement cantle is needed. I wish I had a better observation.

[Tobus]

It's really hard to tell what's going on from the photo. Not that it's a poor quality photo; it's just difficult to see detail when it's all black.

How does the leather feel to the touch? Is it hard and brittle feeling, or soft and crumbly? Is it pliable at all?

I've seen many an old leather saddle deteriorate from heat and lack of care, but usually when they start to break down, the leather will crack and crumble away. When that happens on a dyed surface, you'll see bits of tan leather come through. I'm not seeing that on your cantle. It's possible that you (or someone) applied polish repeatedly over the leather as it started to deteriorate, and that might explain all the bumpiness and odd textures I'm seeing. But if this isn't something that you've been adding color/finish to over time, then I'm not sure what's going on.

How has this sporran been stored?

[Jags]

It's really hard to tell what's going on from the photo. Not that it's a poor quality photo; it's just difficult to see detail when it's all black.

How does the leather feel to the touch? Is it hard and brittle feeling, or soft and crumbly? Is it pliable at all?

I've seen many an old leather saddle deteriorate from heat and lack of care, but usually when they start to break down, the leather will crack and crumble away. When that happens on a dyed surface, you'll see bits of tan leather come through. I'm not seeing that on your cantle. It's possible that you (or someone) applied polish repeatedly over the leather as it started to deteriorate, and that might explain all the bumpiness and odd textures I'm seeing. But if this isn't something that you've been adding color/finish to over time, then I'm not sure what's going on.

How has this sporran been stored?

It is a very odd finish and it was like this when I acquired it. Like you say, leather normally dries and cracks and the top surface may flake off in places. This is tough but pliable and the only way I can describe the odd surface texture is that it looks as though it has been lying face down on a range of surfaces and taken their imprint.

[Steve Ashton]

This looks to me about like an old shoe coating that was sold to make leather look spit shined. It was a plastic that you spread over your stuff. After a while it ended up looking just like this if you left it on too long or did not renew it.

[Jags]

This looks to me about like an old shoe coating that was sold to make leather look spit shined. It was a plastic that you spread over your stuff. After a while it ended up looking just like this if you left it on too long or did not renew it.

Now that is interesting, I'll need to look this stuff up. This could very well be what you describe. Shame it wasn't just spit shined, would have lasted the test of time better if it had been!

[plaid preacher]

This looks to me about like an old shoe coating that was sold to make leather look spit shined. It was a plastic that you spread over your stuff. After a while it ended up looking just like this if you left it on too long or did not renew it.

I'm with, Steve. My first thought was that it looks like Leather Lustre that is starting to peal away. Now, how do you get it off, I'm uncertain, not being a user of this product myself. My first thoughts are either actone or heat... but I'm not recommending either.